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Chapter 4306 Demon God is Hell
Chapter 4306 Demon God is Hell
Liriel felt she completely "understood" the Decayers' plan.
What she needs to do now is to cooperate with the decaying one in putting on a good show of this "mutual tearing apart".
Thinking of this, Liriel's eyes instantly sharpened.
On the other side, the Decayer was also pondering why Normefens was not averse to this topic.
As a scholar primarily focused on research, I couldn't quite figure out the reason for it at first.
It decided to put it aside for the time being and answer Lillie's question first.
It thought for a moment and replied, "The Venerable One of Knowledge has never deceived me, but that only applies to me. As for whether He would deceive you, I cannot give an answer..."
Before the withered one could finish speaking, Liriel's sharp voice retorted.
"You know nothing, yet you still question it?"
The withered man was stunned.
This doesn't make sense; she's already asked four questions. Aren't we supposed to ask each other three questions each?
The decaying one glanced at Normefens out of the corner of its eye and found that it was still watching them with great interest, making no attempt to stop them.
The Decayer looked at Liriel again and found that Liriel was showing a hidden anger.
Although it didn't understand what was going on, since Liriel continued to ask and Normefens didn't say anything, it answered:
“I don’t need to know the answer to dare to question. Your trust in Scholar is based on the belief that ‘He can help you save your students.’ But could this belief lead you into a trap?”
Liriel's eyes darkened, her tone sharpened, and she even took a half-step closer: "A trap? Why would you say that the cruel scholar's advice to me was a trap? As His follower, you are overstepping your bounds!"
Looking at Liriel's suddenly soaring arrogance and obviously exaggerated demeanor, the Decayer seemed to vaguely understand something.
Is this deliberately creating conflict between the two sides?
The decaying creature glanced at Normefens again and saw that it was showing unprecedented excitement. It finally understood.
"If you think this is presumptuous, then let it be presumptuous."
"I am unwilling to comment on the choices of the gods, but as a follower of the gods, I am well aware that the thinking logic of the gods is completely different from that of humans... especially demon gods."
Lillie frowned: "What do you mean?"
The withered one sighed softly: "Don't you understand? The gods don't show you kindness for no reason."
“For you, you feel that your deal with the gods is not a problem, that you owe them a favor, and that they gave you clues about the ‘Old City’.”
"It seems fair, with everyone getting what they need."
"But why would a god grant you a promise when you have received nothing in return, based solely on an invisible and intangible favor that you may never even have the chance to use in the future?"
The withered one's tone was calm, yet it was like a sharp blade, cutting open the truth that Liriel deliberately refused to think about.
Moreover, the withered one's "knife" has not stopped.
Do you really think that a demon god who wields the power of knowledge is in need of a favor from you?
“You might think I’m exaggerating,” the Decaying One said. “But actually, I’m only saying a few more words because the story you told me earlier touched me, so that you can discover a missing link in your thinking—you trust the answers that Scholar gives you too much.”
“I have spent a long time in the abyss, and I have seen many humans who are wary of demons. You believe that all demons are cunning and cruel, and thus you have even come up with a saying: Demons are hell.”
"You are so wary of demons, yet you are willing to believe the promise of a demon god? You should know that most demon gods were demons before they became gods."
"So, I am indeed overstepping my bounds, because this is not the abyss, which is why I dare to speak a few truths."
After saying this, the Decayer looked at Liriel.
Liriel's pupils trembled incessantly. Upon meeting the gaze of the withered one, she reacted as if by shock, and roared in a suppressed voice:
"……enough!"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was hoarse from extreme suppression, each word sounding like it was being ground out from between her teeth:
"Who do you think you are? You're just a ghost who doesn't even dare to look back at its own civilization. What right do you have to criticize my choices!"
"Yes! I'm desperate! I have no other choice! I'm risking everything I have for that one percent chance!"
"But what about you? You stand high above and point out all this, telling me it's a trap, telling me the gods are watching—and then what?!"
Her voice suddenly rose, filled with desperate mockery:
"Can you give me a second way? Can you give me the coordinates of the 'City of the Past'? Can you pull my student Astrid back from the countdown to her death?!"
"You can't! You can't give me anything! All you'll do is stay here and use your cold, cruel 'truths' to slowly torture my last pitiful hope!"
"This is not a reminder, you decaying one...this is cruelty."
Although Liriel was attacking the Decayer, the Decayer knew that it had achieved its goal.
It asked this question in an attempt to deconstruct the deal between the demon god and her.
Liriel did indeed see it clearly—even though she was still refuting it, whether it was "acting" or a real debate, the veil of truth that she had deliberately ignored had been torn open.
Once these facts were pointed out, even if she wanted to continue numbing herself, she could no longer cover them up.
Because she herself knew that this was the truth.
Demons are hell, just like gods.
Or rather, everything that exists besides oneself... is hell.
Everyone else is hell.
……
The Decaying One exhaled deeply: "I cannot give you a second way. I just want you to think: does the City of the Past truly possess the longevity method you desire?"
"Are you really going to gamble all your hopes on the old city?"
"Just like you said yourself, you don't know when the Old City will reopen, and the time you've wasted waiting for it to open will never come back."
Liriel opened her mouth, but in the end, she didn't say anything.
Even if it were to deliver sharp, confrontational remarks, she couldn't bring herself to say them.
She could interpret her earlier impassioned words as "acting," but was she really acting? Only she knows.
But now, she can no longer "perform" because the words of the withered one... have truly broken her defenses.
After a long silence, she could only say softly, "What you said... is true. But now, all I can wait for is the old city."
“I have tried many things, but I have not been able to extend Astrid’s life.”
"The only thing I can hope for is... a miracle, and the Old City is the only place I know that could possibly produce a miracle."
The withered one gave her a deep look and whispered something that Liriel found utterly cruel: "Yes, the City of the Past is also known in the Abyss as the first city where miracles were born, but does this miracle truly belong to you, or to the Demon God?"
Liriel: "..."
……
"It was a wonderful exchange of questions; it was a long-awaited show for me."
"So, congratulations, this road is open."
As the words fell, the wall of questions that had been blocking the two slowly opened, forming a long, secluded passage that could accommodate their past.
Normefens's clone transformed into a miniature statue, which was embedded in the wall above.
This time, although the clearance was a bit sudden, it was actually quite normal.
After Normefens said "Let's watch the show," the questions and answers between the Decayer and Liriel have far exceeded the three limits, so passing the level is inevitable.
However, neither the Decayer nor Liriel were particularly excited about clearing the game.
Although Liriel was the one who was most deeply broken in the conversation just now, the Decayer was actually not having an easy time either... After all, as a follower, questioning the Scholar's Venerable went against its inner beliefs.
Fortunately, its inner beliefs are supported by two pillars: the Prussian civilization and the veneration of knowledge.
The former is far greater than the latter.
It was only by anchoring itself to the former that it was able to stabilize its inner state.
Furthermore, having been mired in nihilism for many years and teetering on the brink of existential destruction countless times, its faith in the veneration of knowledge is not as steadfast as it once was. As long as there is no direct betrayal, this current state has no substantial impact on it.
But it still made it feel a little depressed.
Therefore, it remained silent in the face of this clearance.
The only one in a good "mood" was probably Nomifens.
It even proactively made a promise: "I promised you before that after you pass through my Wall of Questions, I can answer one of your questions."
"I am very satisfied with your performance just now, so I have decided to give you an extra opportunity to ask a question."
"Each of you may ask me one question."
"But it's not negotiable."
Normfins looked at the two of them: "Who wants to go first?"
Although Liriel hadn't recovered yet, she knew very well that "asking questions" was important, and now that she had another opportunity to ask questions, her mood improved a little.
She looked at the withered one, trying to hint at the type of question to follow through with her eyes.
But the withered one seemed not to have received her hint, for it had already walked up to Normefens: "I'll go first."
Liriel: "..."
Well, even without eye contact, she believed that the withered one would surely understand her question.
After all, in terms of reason and rationality alone, Liriel felt that she was far inferior to the Decayers.
But just when Liriel thought that the Decayer would ask a constructive question that would lead to future actions, the Decayer chose a question that she had not expected.
"Lord Normfins should already be aware of my situation and that of my companion, and my question is related to that."
"My question is, besides the City of the Past, do you know of any other methods that could prolong Astrid's life?"
In Lillie's view, this problem is extremely irrational.
But Lillie knew something was wrong, yet her vision was inexplicably blurry, as if it were soaked in water.
She turned her head away, closed her eyes tightly, and after a long while turned back, saying in a helpless and reproachful tone, "Actually... there's no need to waste time on this question."
"Even the gods could only offer the answer of the old city..."
Not to mention Normefens?
The withered man gently shook his head: "What if?"
"Just like I once thought that the gods, high above, could solve all problems, but later I realized that even they couldn't solve my problems, and in the end..."
The withered man paused abruptly as he spoke.
Liriel: "Last what?"
The withered man shook his head: "It's nothing."
Liriel was still preoccupied with the previous question, so she didn't press the matter further.
But the withered one turned its head, silently adding to its unspoken words: 'In the end, it was someone it never expected who solved its problem.'
Before this, it thought the other party was just an ordinary person, but he solved a problem that even the gods could not solve.
And that person was Angell.
Angell comes from the Dream World, and Normefens has now also become a member of the Dream World.
Perhaps it really does have a way to help Lillie?
If we can resolve Lillie's biggest worry, her stance might change.
On the other hand, although Liriel was verbally blaming the Decayer for wasting a question, she was actually grateful.
Even though she didn't think Normefens could solve Astrid's lifespan problem, as the Decayer said... what if?
Both the withered and Liriel turned their gazes toward Normefens, awaiting its answer.
Normefens, however, fell into an unusual silence.
He seemed somewhat lost in thought.
After a long while, Normfins slowly opened his eyes: "Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to this question."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Lillie's face, but she quickly recovered.
But then Normfins suddenly said, "I have never seen Astrid with my own eyes, nor do I know the extent of her physical depletion, or what could possibly help her lifespan, so it is impossible for me to give a definite answer out of thin air."
"If I really said I could help extend lifespan, would you believe me?"
The withered one murmured thoughtfully, "That's right, that's the normal answer."
Liriel: "..."
Although the Decayer didn't say anything more, Liriel understood its underlying meaning—the Cruel Scholar hadn't seen Astrid either, but He had given the answer of "the City of the Past."
In comparison, the answer given by Normeffens is indeed more in line with conventional logic.
Liriel glanced at the withered one: "Our argument is over..."
The withered man nodded noncommittally: "But the actual outcome has not yet appeared."
Lillie reached out and clutched her chest; she felt a little uncomfortable again.
Fortunately, Normfins spoke up again, interrupting her thoughts: "Although I don't know how to help Astrid prolong her life, if we don't fixate on prolonging her life but just want her to exist for a long time, I do have a way."
Both the withered man and Liriel froze, their astonished gazes fixed on Normefens.
(End of this chapter)